Will Syrian Kurds resume the intra-Kurdish talks?
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – More than a year and a half has passed since the intra-Kurdish talks first started in Syria; the talks have not yet resulted in agreement, amidst statements by both parties on the importance of reaching an agreement which serves the interests Syria’s Kurds, with a US emphasis on the need to complete the dialogue.
A negotiating source from the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS) told North Press that they are “waiting for the US response on the result of their contacts with the other party,” referring to the Kurdish National Unity Parties (PYNK).
ENKS said that there are obstacles that curb the continuation of the talks including the “arrest of a number of their members and targeting of their offices.”
“ENKS’ delegation is ready for a return to the negotiating table with no preconditions,” in a call with North Press, said Mohammad Mosa, a negotiator within ENKS’ delegation.
“The current situation requires concessions by both sides, there is a danger that threatens our existence as Syrian Kurds,” Mosa added.
The dialogue began with an initiative launched by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi to unify the Kurdish position in Syria under American sponsorship following the Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria in October 2019.
After a decade of war in Syria, disagreements have continued between the ENKS, which is affiliated with the Syrian National Coalition (a Turkish-backed Syrian opposition coalition) and PYNK, which participates in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
The intra-Kurdish talks, which were suspended in late in 2020 after the US Ambassador left Syria, are sponsored by diplomats from the US along with Abdi.
On Seprtember 14, the US Embassy in Damascus said that US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood spoke separately with the two parties to “reaffirm the US’ support for the dialogue.”
Hood urged ”all parties to be involved in direct discussions for the sake of finding joint solutions for problems that residents of Syria’s northeast are going through,” US Embassy reported on its official Facebook account.
”The intra-Kurdish talks are one of the US’ strategic projects in Syria, and are a cornerstone for the unity of the Syrian opposition,” an official of Public Relations at the Euphrates Center for Studies, Walid Joly, said in an audio statement to North Press.
”Washington is pressuring the two parties for a return to the negotiating table, as US is serious in efforts to end the dialogue with a final agreement,” Joly added.